Butte semi-weekly miner. [volume] (Butte, Mont.) 1886-1890, 1887-01-12
A TERRIBLE EXPERIENCE.
A Stage Driver Badly Frosen-The Leg.
islature-Death From Nor.
phine- Montana Specials.
Special to TEE MIMI
A TERRIBLE EXPERIENCE.
Tho Benton Stage Driver Badly Ffossn,
and Montgomery Insane.

Tho Benton Stage Driver BADLY FIoDons
and Montgomery Insane.
HELENA, M. T., January ., 1sS7.-The
Benton stage tonight brought in the three
passengers who were on tho bslated stage
that was storm bound eighteen miles south
of Benton from Thursday until Friday
evening. They we're J. w. Montgomery,
from the Judith; I. Edenholm and VIM.
Morgan, two discharged soldiers from Fort
Assinaboine. From = member OF the party
your correspondent gathers the following
story Of
THEIR TERRIBLE EXPERIENCE:
They left Benton at seven O'Clock Thurs.
day morning in a binding snow storm. 1t
was not then, however, very cold, but rap
idly grew colder. They lost the road sew.
eral times, and made slow progress until
nearly night fall, whom the horses became
too much exhausted to proceed further
with the conveyance. The driver, Chas. 8.
Fox, thought they were within Eve miles ol
Twenty eight Mile Springs, ono OF the stage
stations. It Was here decided to send the
two soldiers to the station with the horses
for relief. They accordingly started, but
after making about five miles, one OF the
HORSES GAVE OUT ENTIRELY,
and the other was too badly used up to bs
OF service. They then tied the animals to .
telegraph pole, and started OF on
foot. They had not gone far
when one OF them sank powerless to the
ground. His companion, however, recos-
nzing that certain death would be his fate
if left behind, literally dragged him the re-
naming distance to the station, which
proved to be five miles. Upon arrival at
the Springs they endeavored to organize .
party to return to the abandoned stage,
but the storm was raging with such fury
that no one could be found who would vel
un.e.r to make the attempt until the after
noon OF the next day. In tho meantime
The driver and Montgomery, becoming
alarmed at the non-arrival OF assistance,
determined to st out to the Springs on
oot. They were thoroughly benumbsd,
md it was only with great sxertion that
hey Travelled distance OF about five
niles, when they became
BEw1LDERED AND NEARLY EXHAUSTED.
Realizing that they had lost their reck.
,ning, they concluded to return to tho
tage. When within mile OF their start
ng point, Fox declared he would 90 no
urther and his companion left him stag
ering around telegraph pole and iesbly
'eating it with his hands to keep up eircu-
alton. Montgomery struggled on and
na'ly reached tho stage and
Eli over into it utterly helpless.
The sun came out brightly soon
fterward and he revived sufficiently |
o pull the robes about him. Whom . res. |
uing party found Fox he was still at the
elegraph pole and eating snow. Mont. |
omery was found
IN THE STAGE EATING OATS.
They had no food nor drink for thirty |
tx hours and the horrors OF hunger and |
hirst added to the terrors OF the situation. |
'he benighted wanderers were taken to the |
tation where they found that, beyond tho
erious frosting of their extremities, they |
'ere apparently in condition to proceed on |
heir journey, except Fox, the driver, who
'as taken back to Benton for medical as
istance on account of tho critical condi- |
ion OF his arms and limbs, which were
adly frozen. As soon a. the storm had
bated the others resumed their journey,
II suffering severely from
THE TERRIBLE ADVENTURE,
nd yesterday noon Montgomery 3 mind be-
an to waver under the strain Of his terrible
Experience and suffering. By night he was
otalIy insane and had to bs tied in his
eat. He was taken to the hospital here
his evening and medical assistance sum-
1oned. His condition is very serious but |
othing definite can yet be said OF his ulti- |
1ate recovery. The other two men are
ot suffering greatly and are out on the
treets.